The Process

Sand-carving is a technique used to create detailed, layered images in glass. I often refer to it as a kind of reverse bas-relief. Unlike shading or simple flat-blasting, sand-carving allows me to create the illusion of three-dimensionality in my images. Many of my designs require more than 5 levels of carving. If you look closely at a piece, you will see areas that overlap. Everywhere there is one element in front of another, that is a separate stage.

The glass is masked off using a commercial sandblast resist, which is a rubbery layer with an adhesive backing. The design is then either drawn directly onto the resist with pencil, or transferred from a pencil drawing on velum. Then the lines are cut with an exacto blade. The first layer is peeled and the exposed glass is etched with a stream of pressurized air and abrasive. The longer the stream is in contact with the glass, the deeper the etch. When a suitable depth has been achieved, the next layer is peeled and carved. This process can take several hours for more complex pieces.

Each piece is one of a kind. Even designs which are repeated are unique in each version, as they are often hand-drawn each time.

Custom pieces can be ordered. Send me an email with your request, and I will give you a quote. I also do architectural pieces such as transom windows, door lights, or glass for cabinet doors. Some glass can be etched in place, such as large windows or doors that would be hard to remove.